Alternate names: Birshtonas, Birštonas, Birštonas-Kurortas, Birštono, Birsztany. 54°37' N 24°02' E, 51.5 miles W of Vilnius. This spa town on Nemunas River received its city rights in 1529. The resort founded in 1846 atracted people from Russia, Poland, and Lithuania to sanitoriums for applied mineral water and curative mud procedures. [August 2009]